Rosberg: The collision between Russell and Antonelli is inevitable.

      World Champion of 2016 Nico Rosberg gave an interview in which he commented on the battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for the title, offered advice to Toto Wolff, and assessed the likelihood of Max Verstappen leaving Formula 1.

      Question: Nico, what does a team need for effective work?

      Nico Rosberg: Let's start with a simple formula – the team should be your family. There are a thousand employees in the team who work for you. They essentially dedicate their lives so that you can drive the best car. The team works day and night, travels a lot, makes sacrifices, and becomes very attached to each other, quarrels, and forgives. Just like in a family.

      Question: What if you can't build that kind of connection with your team?

      Nico Rosberg: In that case, you cannot expect to create a winning team. In Formula 1, nothing can be done alone, so a driver must be able to create the right atmosphere in the team. This is one of the qualities of champions.

      Question: You were part of the Mercedes family for many years, with which you won the championship title. Do you see the same qualities in Mercedes this year that were present during your successes?

      Nico Rosberg: Yes, they started the season with exactly the same mindset as in those years, focusing on the new regulations. The team approached the new regulations as prepared as possible, just like twelve years ago. They want to win and prove it in practice.

      Question: As teammates with Lewis Hamilton, you put on a real show, challenging each other on the track. Will something similar happen between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell?

      Nico Rosberg: Of course, a clash between them is inevitable. We have already seen how closely they fought on the track, so a clash is unavoidable, especially when the chance to win the title is at stake.

      Question: Can you give them any advice?

      Nico Rosberg: The advice is to come together and talk about it. When something happens on the track, the consequences need to be dealt with both on and off it. But this is more of advice for Toto Wolff, who needs to sit down with his drivers and discuss in advance how to behave in case of certain conflicts.

      Question: In karting, Antonelli raced for your team, and you have known him since childhood. What kind of driver was he?

      Nico Rosberg: A phenomenon, one of the greatest talents I have ever seen in karting, alongside Max Verstappen. Last year, when he faced difficulties and someone questioned his abilities, I kept saying, "Calm down, give him time, and this guy will achieve his goals." And that's exactly what happened.

      Question: Kimi has won three out of four races and leads the individual standings. But is he ready to fight for the title in his second season in Formula 1?

      Nico Rosberg: Absolutely, he is still young, only 19 years old, and no one has ever led the individual standings at such a young age. Kimi is attracting a lot of attention – everyone in Italy has fallen in love with him, he has already become a star of Formula 1, and it's hard to cope with that, as well as with the mistakes that will inevitably occur. But he has a great opportunity, and he knows it. He has a fast car at his disposal, and he can fight for serious results.

      Question: What does he need to do?

      Nico Rosberg: Keep going in the same spirit and be able to abstract. Not to listen to or pay attention to what people are saying around him, focus on the season, race by race, and then see how it all unfolds, including considering the competitors, because it's not a fact that the title fight will only be between Mercedes drivers.

      Question: How do you assess Ferrari's performance this year?

      Nico Rosberg: I assess it positively. They started the season strong, and their car is good. They are missing something to fight for victories, but compared to last year, they have done a lot of work, and I think they will soon start winning Grands Prix again.

      I am happy for Lewis Hamilton, who seems to have finally returned to his level and is enjoying racing again after a really tough 2025 for him. Adapting to a new team was not easy, but now it seems he has settled in completely.

      Question: Max Verstappen has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to race in Formula 1 for too long. Do you think he will leave before he turns 30?

      Nico Rosberg: Max has many interests in the world of motorsport, GT racing and more, which allows him not to see leaving Formula 1 as something frightening. Moreover, by the age of 28, he has already won four championship titles. Many paths are open to him, including leaving Formula 1 for a few years and then returning.

      But I am not sure this is his case, because at the same time, I see in Verstappen a huge desire to win, so I think he will decide to continue. However, he will have to think about which team to continue with. He can stay with Red Bull or try to move to another team to increase his chances of winning the title again.